Topmusicanswers
The simplest way to put atonality is trying to get away from the traditional ideas of harmony (ie the ides of a tonic). Composers have always wanted to push the limit of what they write and this is no exception.
- Why was atonality created?
- Why do you think 20th century composers chose to write atonal music?
- Why do composers write dissonant music?
- What is the meaning of atonality in music?
Why was atonality created?
"Serialism arose partly as a means of organizing more coherently the relations used in the pre-serial 'free atonal' music. ... Thus, many useful and crucial insights about even strictly serial music depend only on such basic atonal theory".
Why do you think 20th century composers chose to write atonal music?
They felt that harmony was all used up and Romanticism had lost inventiveness. In response to this frustration, some composers decided to scrap all the rules of tonal music and invented something they called atonal music.
Why do composers write dissonant music?
Although dissonance in music may make some listeners feel uneasy, it ultimately helps to create tension and a sense of motion in compositions. ... However, dissonance is a tool used by composers to achieve a certain effect or mood in listeners; it can be used to create and escalate excitement.
What is the meaning of atonality in music?
Atonality, in music, the absence of functional harmony as a primary structural element.
